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Now reigning as the top Joshi promotion in Japan after being created over 10 years ago, Stardom has bolstered itself into the top women's wrestling destination over the past several years. With phenomenal wrestling and some of the most promising women's stars in the professional wrestling landscape, the company continues to move forward as the place for all-star, marquee women's wrestling matches. Thanks to Stardom, WWE fans have gotten to see the likes of Io Shirai, Kairi Sane, and Meiko Satomura, all names that have been featured in Stardom over the years, with the former Pirate Princess, KAIRI, making her return to the promotion earlier in 2022. Thankfully in recent years, the product has become even more accessible to non-Japanese fans, with the Stardom World streaming service, coming in at around 9 U.S. dollars a month.
It's As Hard-Hitting As New Japan
For fans of New Japan Pro Wrestling, or for those that have seen any content from NJPW, the term "strong style" is something that likely is associated with that style of wrestling. Taking a look at Stardom, with names like Utami Hayashishita, Giulia, Tam Nakano, and Mayu Iwatani at the top of the card, fans can not only expect to see great wrestling but can watch truly hard-hitting women's wrestling that does not feel as if it is being diluted to present the women's stars as being "soft". For those that want to see Japanese women beating the life out of one another in the medium of professional wrestling, look no further than Stardom, as the company has exactly what you would want to see.
There Is Uniqueness In Its Stars
While most of Stardom's roster does come from a Japanese background, aside from Thekla who is the sole Gaijin wrestler on the company's roster currently, the uniqueness that flows through the strongest women's division in the world is on full display during each and every Stardom event. Jumping from faction to faction, there is something for everyone, with Oedo Tai serving the role of the Chaotic Evil group, Queen's Quest being one of the coolest-looking factions around, STARS as the loveable goofballs, DDM being the resident tweeners, God's Eye being serious shoot-style wrestlers, and Cosmic Angels being best described as good-looking pin-up models, turned hard-hitting wrestlers.
The company may present women's wrestling as a serious affair, but they are not one to shy away from having fun, with costume change battle royals or more comedy-based gimmicks like Mina Shirakawa and Fukigen Death in the promotion. It is a balancing act that allows the company to thrive as the top Joshi promotion in Japan, and through being purchased by BUSHIROAD, the parent company of New Japan Pro Wrestling, Stardom has continued to grow in recent years.
The Quality Of Wrestling Exceeds Most Women's Wrestling In North America
While AEW and WWE sometimes do hit the mark with great women's wrestling, Impact Wrestling's Knockouts Division is often the most consistently good women's wrestling in North America. Even so, the Knockouts Division does not come close to Stardom's quality that often, with the in-ring product from the Joshi promotion rivaling even the most superb in-ring action that WWE and AEW put on with their male wrestlers. With names like Utami Hayashishita and Mayu Iwatani being some of the best wrestlers in the world, regardless of gender, the company is at a point where they are thriving and excelling with their in-ring exploits.
Names like Starlight Kid, Momo Kohgo, Hanan, and Rina are bringing up the youth in Stardom, as some of the youngest stars in the company as they continue to build towards the future. With wrestlers from outside promotions, like AEW's Tay Conti, actively stating that they want to wrestle some of the ladies in Stardom, it is no wonder why the promotion is so highly regarded by both the fans and wrestlers alike. As Stardom continues to grow in popularity, it should only be a matter of time before a company like All Elite Wrestling decides to try and start a working relationship, getting some of the best female stars to come work in AEW, while giving Stardom an even greater level of exposure to new fans around the world.